title: A job-exposure matrix for research and surveillance of occupational health and safety in Spanish workers: MatEmESp.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study we describe a general-population job-exposure matrix (MatEmESp) for Spanish workers covering the period 1996-2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Finnish job-exposure matrix (FINJEM) provided the default value estimates for occupational exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents. These estimates were adapted to Spanish working conditions by local experts. Spanish surveys were used to obtain exposure estimates for ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors. Employment and socio-demographic conditions for Spanish workers were obtained from the Spanish National Statistics Institute.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MatEmESp provides a large amount of national and occupation-specific data on the major occupational exposures in Spain. As some examples, the data show that the most prevalent occupational hazards are repetitive movements and a lack of support from co-workers. In addition, 10% of the Spanish working population perform night shifts, and bricklayers and concrete workers are the job titles with the highest risk of exposure to quartz dust.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MatEmESp can be a useful tool for research and surveillance, and can help set priorities for occupational illness and injury prevention in Spain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. anagar@uv.es
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: González-Galarzo
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kauppinen
authors.forename: Georges L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Delclos
authors.forename: Fernando G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Benavides
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: exposure assessment; hazard surveillance; occupational epidemiology; occupational groups; population-based studies